Police Commissioner Kühme remains in office until the end of his term of office
Oldenburg Police Commissioner Johann Kühme will remain in office until the end of his term of office. He will retire at the end of March 2024, the Ministry of the Interior announced on Friday. This will ensure "continuous and strong leadership", said Interior Minister Daniela Behrens. "Johann Kühme is known for fervently standing up for the values of our democracy," emphasized the SPD politician. This is "sometimes a tightrope walk" for civil servants. Kühme had criticized the AfD in an interview with the "Nordwest-Zeitung" newspaper.
In the interview at the end of August, Kühme had said that the AfD was distorting the truth and spreading lies in order to stir up insecurity and fear among the population. "The AfD manipulates people's subjective sense of security. And in doing so, it is opposing the work of the police," said the police chief. The Ministry of the Interior is legally examining the statements. Following the criticism, the AfD had announced a lawsuit against the state of Lower Saxony.
Behrens also spoke to Kühme about his statements, which are the subject of a pending complaint by the AfD: "I expect the police in Lower Saxony to stand up for a defensible constitutional state." This includes presenting practical experiences from day-to-day police work in order to educate people "about the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories". "The AfD Lower Saxony was classified as an object of suspicion by the Lower Saxony Office for the Protection of the Constitution for good reason," she emphasized. "I am grateful to Johann Kühme for his clear commitment to protecting our constitutional state."
Kühme expressed his delight at the minister's support and backing. He could understand the arguments for continuing in office until the end. It was only in September that he had applied for early retirement at the end of the year. According to the ministry, a procedure to replace him at the end of his term of office will be initiated shortly.
Authorities are examining the statements made by Police Commissioner Kühme about the AfD, as they form the basis of a pending complaint by the party. The police are expected to stand up for a defensible constitutional state, which includes educating the public about the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories.
Despite the pending complaint, the authorities have decided to keep Police Commissioner Kühme in office until the end of his term, appreciating his commitment to defending the constitutional state.
Source: www.dpa.com
